Horrors, chuckles and more

In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, Swara Bhasker talks about all that gets to her

Swara Bhasker, one of the few who were busy even during the lockdown, has her latest show, Aapke Kamre Mein Koi Rehta Hai, a horror comic, waiting to premier on MX Player soon. The show is about a haunted building in which a couple friends get stuck. But Swara has been having a good ride from 2020 right into 2021, already having made a mark with series such as Rasbhari, Flesh and Bhaag Beanie Bhaag.

Speaking of her latest show, we wonder if the actress herself believes in ghosts. “In Aapke Kamre Mein Koi Rehta Hai, a ghost enters my room,” she explains. “Luckily, in real life, such things have never come close to me and hope it never happens. I get scared listening to ghost stories and I feel there is no space for any ghostly soul to enter my life. I try not to think too much about these things, but if someone has a belief, I don’t disagree with their thought process either. I feel everyone has the right to have their own belief and I have no issues with anyone’s thought process. Unless you are harming someone, I think it is all fine.”

Saying so, she pauses speaking for a moment. Then, comically with folded hands, she adds gingerly, “If any ghost is listening to my conversation, I request with folded hands to please be where you are and not come forward towards me at all.”

FRIENDSHIP TALK

While Aapke Kamre Mein Koi Rehta Hai is a horror-comedy, Swara reminds us that it is also about friendship in a rather cute situation. And Swara has something to say about friends. “I believe even though you are born into a family, friends are a family we choose on earth. I consider friendship very important and I am lucky I have good friends who are really special,” she tells us, adding that her friends from her school days are mostly her 4 am friends. “But I am also lucky to have some 4 am friends in Bollywood, such as

Sonam Kapoor and Zeeshan.”

BRINGING UP THE SOCIAL TALK

It’s difficult to talk to or about Swara without talking about how she gets trolled on social media. On similar lines, it is ironic that despite the criticism she parries on various platforms, her films and shows often do well. “That’s probably because firstly my work has nothing to do with whatever happens on social media,” she says. “I am an actor, and acting is my profession. And like it’s mentioned in Bhagavad Gita, ‘Karm hi dharm hota hai’ (Your deeds are your religion), my job is my karma and dharma. I can’t compromise with my work, and I am recognised because of my work. And this identity, I have carved myself.” Talking about taking a stance on social media, she clarifies that those are her views. “I’m not being paid for those, nor am I any kind of influencer. My opinions there reflect my upbringing, my views, ideologies, values and thought processes. So I speak up and I am ready for the backlash. I am not speaking anything for the sake of it. Whatever my views are, I put it out with utter conviction. I am clear about it and can handle the criticism,” she states.

I was always a confident child. And the credit goes to my parents. Their upbringing helped me instil confidence in me. For instance, there was no difference in how my brother and I were brought up—we got the same opportunities and everything at the same level. — Swara Bhasker